Chair



' 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. OSWELL.

CHAIR t (No Model.)

Patented Sept. 80, 1890.

L, Z, WW uw 02, L W0/ witwassen (No Model.) 3 SheetsfSheet 3.

W. GSWELL.v CHAIR.'

m4431235. Y Patent-,ed Sept. so, 1890.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

WILLIAM OSWELL, OF AKRON, OHIO.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,235, dated September 30, 1890.

Application iiled March 3, 1890.

.T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM OswELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the sam e, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in chairs, and more particularly to that class of chairs which are adapted to be tilted or adj usted to bring the same into various positions, adapting it for use by invalids or as an easy-ch air.

The novelty resides in the peculiar combinations and the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspeciflcation, and in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chair constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with the foot or leg rest removed and with parts broken away and other parts in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation in detail of a modiication. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chair with slight modications shown adjusted to form a crib. Figs. 5 and 6 are details, which will be more particularly referred to hereinafter.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a suitable base, which may be in any desired shape and preferably upon rollers, as shown in Fig. -l. Rising from this base is a hollow standard A', internally threaded, as shown in Fig. 2, to which is iitted a threaded spindle A2, as also shown in said Fig. 2. This threaded spindle carries at its upper end a bevel-pinion a, and is centrally bored for the reception of a spin- Serial No. 342,370. (No model.)

dle a', to the upper end of which is aixed a fork or coupling c?, to which the yoke Bis secured, as shown best in Fig. 2. The yoke B has at its upper ends couplings i), through the horizontal portions of which, which are in line with each other, are formed holes for the reception of the balance-pins C, the construction of which is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. G. Thepin consists of a shank, which passes through the opening in the horizontal portion of the said coupling b, and at its outer end is provided with a handle b', by which it may be operated when desired, and two ilanges or disks b2, through which the shank passes, a pin b3 connecting the said disks eccentrically with the shank, as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

The seat-frame may be formed of any suitable material-such as wood or wicker-work,\ A

or metal, or wood and metal-light tubular metal being preferred. The main frame of the seat consists of a bow-shaped bar D, a back D', to which is secured a head-rest d, adjustable thereon in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a set-screw, as shown best in Fig. l, the seat D2 being connected with the said frame by means of hanging stays or straps d'. The back is braced by means of the braces d2, which are attached to said back and to the bow-shaped bar D, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

Upon the under side of the bow-shaped bar D, upon each side of the chair, .is a rack-bar E. The teeth or cogs of these bars are engaged by the balance-pins and the chair-seat suspended thereby. The teeth of the rackbars work between the flanges or disks of the balance-pins, and by turning the handles of the said balance-pins the connections between the flanges'will pass over the next tooth of the rack-bar, and the chair-frame will be lifted over the balance-pins by the action of the eccentric connected therewith backward or forward, as desired, simultaneous movement of the balance-pins on each side of the chair of course being required to effect the desired adjustment. The pin b3 is the connection between the two flanges or disks of each balance-pin.

Another form of means for balancing the seat and tilting it back and forth is shown in Fig. 3, wherein- F is a block, and the guide-rail F constitutes the front part of the seat-frame, said guide-rail being provided with an offset f, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to bring the forward portions of the rail above and out of the way of the screw G. These blocks-there being one upon each side of the frame-have holes to receive the shanks of the balance-pins, and also holes to receive the screw-rod G-one upon each side of the chair--the said screw rods being provided with suitable crank-handles f the said rods passing through bearings in the front portions F2 of the frame and into the tubular bow-shapedrod D, the inner ends of the two screw-rods being connected by a iiexible connection G', as shown in Fig. 3, and allow of the ready adjustment of the parts to accommodate the curve of the bar D. By the action of the screw G the chair and guiderail may be moved back and forth in the block, as desired.

A suitable cord or chain H is provided to prevent the tilting of the chair too far.

The chair is raised and lowered by the mech anism shown in Figs. l and 2. rlllie lower part of the yoke B is provided with two or more straps or hangers g, in which is supported a horizontal shaft I, carrying at its inner end a bevel-pinion i, meshing with the pinion a onthe hollow screw-rod A2, as shown best in Fig. 2, and at the other end carrying a sprocket-wheel t', around which passes an endless sprocketchain J, which also passes around a sprocket-wheel j, which is carried by the bracket J', held to the upright portion of the yoke by suitable clamps and provided with a suitable handle y", by the turning of which the chair will be raised or lowered, as desired.

K are legn'ests pivoted to the front of the chair and provided with a stop-notch 7.', as shown best in Fig. 5, so that when they are thrown into position to support the legs, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5, this notch will engage a iixed piu or stop 7c on the chairframe, and by simply turning them over on their pivots into the position indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 5 they will be ont ot the way.

The swinging motion of the chair is produced with the feet of the occupant on the foot-rest L, which is pivoted on the crossbar l. The main frame has on the front two downwardly-extending rods Z, which are connected with a cross-bar Z at the lower ends, the cross bar projecting at each end a little so as to receive the lower ends of the vertical bars or arms L', which at their upper ends are pivotally connected with the horizontal arms L2, which are clamped on the yoke B, as shown best in Fig. 3.

L3 are brace-rods connecting the foot-rest 65 provided with tubular portions which embrace the said arms L and which are adjustable thereon by means of the thumb-screws LZX to allow of the adjustment of the foot-rest. It will thus be seen that, as the foot rest is pivoted to the cross-bar Z at the lower part of the seat and pivotally connected by the rods L and connecting-rods L2 to the yoke, bythe slighest pressing with the toe part of the feet and releasing the same a swinging motion will be produced similar to that of a rockingchair.

A chair constructed as above described can be used as a rocker upon sloping ground and soft places where an ordinary rocker could not be used.

I sometimes provide a chair (such as is shown in Fig. i) which is readily convertible into a crib for a child. This chair may have the means for raising and lowering (such as is shown in Figs. l and 2 and above described) or not, as preferred, and may or may not have the other attachments above described, but which are not shown in said Fig. et. In this form I use the head-rest for a footrest, .simply turning the chair down into the position into which it is indicated in Fig. 4, the end teeth of the rack-bar E being made longer, as shown, and hooked to engage supports on the upper ends of the yoke B. The back is in this instance extended horizontally,

as at m, and the foot-rest is pivoted, as shown at n, to turn over the face of the occupant to hold a net or the like.

What I claim as new isl. The combination, with the base and the yoke, of the seat arranged between the vertical portions of the yoke, and an endless chain, bevel-pinions, sprocket-whcels, and threaded spindles pivotally supported upon said yoke, arranged to be operated from the seat for raising and lowering the seat, and means upon the yoke for tilting the seat, as setforth.

2. The combination, with the base and the yoke supported thereon, of the seat-frame, the rackbars thereon, and the eccentric balance pins on the yoke and rotatable thereon and adapted to engage the teeth of the rack-bars, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the base and the yoke supported thereon, of the seat-frame, the rack-bars thereon, and the eccentric bal aneeepins on the yoke and rotatable thereon and provided with eccentricpins adapted to engage the teeth of the rack-bars and lift the same as the pins are rotated, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the yoke, of the seat-frame provided with rack-bars having their end teeth hooked, and the seatfframe adapted to be turned from a horizontal to a IOO IIO

vertical position and supported by the hooked In testimony that I claim the above I have lo teeth engaging the pin on the yoke, as set hereunto subscribed my name in the presence forth. of two Witnesses.

5. The combination, with the yoke, of the seat-frame provided with rack-bars lhaving WILLIAM OSWELL. hooked teeth, the frame adapted to be turned from a. horizontal to a. vertical position and Vitnesses: supported on the yoke, and a foot-rest, sub- F. J. LIBIS, stantially as specified. O. W. HALE. 

